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Electric bills what was yours

O

old

Well-known Member
Location
Camdenton Missouri
Wife was talking to a number of people today and every one of them had bills in the $300-500 range for last month. They also had a thing on the news about how the rates have gone up as much as 75% in some areas. So what was your like?? Mine was high but I'm on a level pay plan so it is pretty much the same every month
 
Ours was up about 50% in the last month. We generally don't use tons of electric this time of year. Summer is when we really spend the juice on stuff like air conditioning and lots and lots of irrigation. I guess we'll have to budget that in....

Christopher
 
we have electric heat so $$$$$$$$$$ in the winter on the electric bill. usually in the $250-300 range for the house here. Bout the same as last year though. We do save money in the summer time though, very efficient central air.
 
Mine was surprising low considering the extended cold spell we've experienced here in North Alabama.My bill was about $150 for straight electric resistance central heat (not a heat pump).We also used about $60 worth of kerosene in the heater that is our back up for power outages.We also use it like a fireplace in really cold weather for place to go warm up at.We keep the house at a comfortable temperature for 'house pants' and a T shirt.Most here fall for the heat pump scam that the utility company promotes.We live about 120 miles too far north of the break even line for these machines that blow cold air at you and run the compressor year round.They do heat the air to 72 degrees or so,but we are 98.6 degrees so it feels cold.We built this house in 1987 and had to special order a resistance heating central unit,same when we replaced it year before last.It blows warm air and the compressor only runs when cooling.April,May,and October it rests.This house is almost like a thermos jug,insulated,caulked,thermo pane windows,whatever we could do at the time.This winter is the first time the floors have felt cold to sock feet.Al Gore over corrected a little on the global warming doo-dah.We live in the TVA region,had nuclear power not been on the wrong side of 1970's and '80s politics along with the hydro power from the dams.Electricity would be too cheap to meter here.
 
Think it was a tick under $70 last month. Little high, but I used the electric heater a bit, to save on heating oil.

--->Paul
 
Last I checked I was paying .113 cents per kilowatt hour. My bill is between $110 and $150 per month. Electric stove, dryer, pellet burner costs a $1 a day to run the fans on it.
 
We pay gas & electric as a combined bill. Gas heat, w/ fireplace in house and woodstove in shop. Everything else is electric. Shop and house on same meter. total bill $118.

Be sure to turn out the lights on your way out.
 
ours is usually 50 to 80 depending on the time of year. The inlaws saw a HUGE jump in theirs. Power company had a deal for "all-electric" homes. The dropped the deal and now they're paying double/triple. That's in NE Ohio. Ohio Edison??

Not a good deal now.
 
Our rates went up. The bill was over $400. Thats double what it was 2 years ago. Westar is already talking about jumping rates again. The house is electric heat so we have been looking into a wood burner.
 
Electric bill for the pst 2 month period Dec. and Jan. $180.00 normal, burn wood for heat most of the time. Hot water, electric, clothes dryer, during the winter. Usually more when I am using the electric welder. Our's keeps going up each year, pretty well hit the $200.00 mark for most of the year for every two month period. Not much you can do about the electric bill, everything you own has something to do with electricity.Cheers, Murray
 
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Nebraska has some of the lowest rates in the country. But The last I read new wind generation instalations are going to drive up prices. It is still cheaper to produce electricity with nuclear and coal power.
 
I had Ohio Ed about 15 years ago and they were crooks then. Doesn't sound like they have changed. When we move south my usage doubled and and bill was half.

We're just south of their service area now on a coop. Last bill was $372. That includes two all electric houses (175 and 197) in single digit weather. I have seen maybe a penny increase per KW in rates in the last two years, but the rest of the bill took a hit (delevery and such). Mabey 10% total.

My electric bill would be much of nothing if I had wood stoves. But the increase insurance rates cost more than the savings.
 
about $300 every month.. We have 2 electric 85 gallon water heaters, silo unloader and barn cleaner and all the milking eqiupment. I still find electric to be cheap and everthing in our house and barn is electric. we do use day night rates. Thats for the barn and house
 
Not that much,but still too d@mned high. About $130 to 150 last 2 months. 2 years ago it was around $120 with 4 more people living in the house. All teenagers and young 20 somethings,taking constant showers and doing non stop laundry with an electric water heater and electric dryer. Can't figure the fuel useage out either for that matter. We have the whole upstairs closed right off and we're using 30-50 gallons more fuel a month than we were then.
 
Would that be Mt. Hood in Oregon on the horizon? Seen it many times but don't know all the mountains in this great country. Just looks like the Cascade Range on Washington and Oregon, Hal.
 
A few years ago, my bill was around $120 a month if we used the electric hot water heater and around $90 when we used the propane heater.

Our montly bill now is less then zero (power company owes us money). That because we are on a 5400 watt solar electric system. In the winter all our hot water is heating with a wood furnace.

To be accurate, we had to pay for the solar electric, so our power is not really free. Just sort of "all paid in advance." We paid around $10,000 out-of-pocket for a $35,000 system. The rest was paid for by Federal and State incentives. So, we are sort of paying $100 per month for 8 years and then all is free (got through two already). Also got a 50' X 50' tractor barn out of the deal. Built it with a special roof point south to hold the solar panels.
So, if I put that $10,000 value on the barn, the power IS free.

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$125/month for electric only. One refrigerator, one freezer, electric dryer, electric oven, one electric space heater and a 1200sqft house.

We noticed a jump in our bill in November of last year. I had been paying $125/month for everything above, in addition to an electric hot water heater and another refrigerator. I checked my usage and confirmed the change, it was just invisible from the rate increase.
 
Looks like Hood to me too. Taken from Newberg or North of there maybe? The direction of the windmill indicates a North wind. That means it"s cold.
And my bill is $125, all electric except wood heat.
 
I started to look into something like that but then the power compnay said well we have to inspect every thing and you have the have X insurance etc etc. They sent me a packet that had so much to read in it and fill out I said to heck with it. Plus I don't have the $$ to do it big so it would have been a little at a time which also doesn't seem worth it
 
I realize that you're averaging out your cost over a month? Year?
However, I'm curious... on a daily basis, do you come close to meeting your needs every day, or do you get a week where you make 3 times your needs that gets put into the grid, then a week where you make little or no power?
I've been looking at wind/solar for a remote location, completly off grid... and I'm just wondering what could be expected from an array that size on a regular basis so as to correctly size a battery bank.

Rod
 
I built a "Green House" before the term going Green was invented. My walls have an R 22 rating, my attic has an R 60 and my windows are the best casement's Anderson made in 1991. We have had the second coldest winter in the past 20 years. I have simple electric baseboard heat in each room and 2000+ sq ft house with 1000 sq ft basement. My record electric bill last month was $230 and I like my rooms a minimun of 72 degrees. My electric rate is about $.10/kw-hr.
 
I didn't say it was totally free, did I?

Yes about tax payers, am I'm one of them. Been paying those taxes for 60 years - to support welfare programs, free health care for others while I pay cash for mine. Free heat for others while I cut firewood to heat my own place. Free house improvements to others while I fix mine myself, etc. Technically, much of the "alternative energy" money comes from the rates people pay to their power companies. NY incentives are only allowed in areas that have power companies that allow it. And, those power companies charge every customer a fee for "alternative energy." Those fees goe into the incentive programs.

So sorry chief, but I'm not thanking you for my energy system. I designed it myself and did most of the actual work myself. It was NO easy task to actually save any money using incentives. The REAL story on these incentive programs is - they are "make work" programs and just one step closer to the USA becoming totally socialized. They are set up to force people to use workers who charge around twice the the normal rate for such work. I figure I've paid as much taxes as you, and have gotten very little in return for it.
 
We probably live in one of the worst areas of the USA for solar electric (dark, cold central New York). If we lived in the southwest, we could make the same power with half the solar panels.

To answer your question, we have 2-3 months each year when we make very little electricity. But, some other months we make twice or three times our useage. So, on an annual basis, we make more then we use.

In our area, without grid-tie to the power company, it would not work. During those months when we make a surplus, it would ALL be wasted. There is NO way to save it for later. With the power company hooked to us, they have to buy it from us and, sell it back at the same rate when we want it - with NO delivery charges.

My neighbor has that problem. He's totally off grid with solar and wind power. He has no way to save his excess. And during dark and windless months, he gets most of his electricity from a propane powered generator which is very expensive to run. He should, at least, get a diesel genset that can make a lot more power for the dollar. Natural gas would be the cheapest, but that is not available around here.

One note about off-grid though. If you build an off-grid system, you can buy equipment at half the price or less. And, you can still get Federal tax exemptions to help pay - but can't get state incentives that demand grid-tie only. So, in some ways it's better. I've got an off-grid 1000 watt system at a remote site I have in the Adirondack mountains. I keep a 17 KW gas powered genset there, just in case I need a lot of electricity for welding. Otherwise, for a small cabin we do fine. And, I don't have to pay any service charge to a power company every month. If we lived there full-time though, we'd need more power.
 
Funny how if you get a tax credit or you collect Disability how some people think your taking money out of there pocket. That money is there for a reason and people like me and you have payed into the system for X number of years so we in tun sooner or later can use it our self's It really bugs me when people act that way. Sort of like the Vietnam vets getting spit at when you came home back in the 60s but now days are thanked for there service
 
Just what exactly is your problem? Are you out of anti-depressants?

Did I say something to intentionally provoke you in any way?

These forums are getting pretty weird.
 
I don't think anybody on the planet has enough information - to accurately say one way or the other - if alternative energy can pay for itself.

First, you'd need a crystal ball to tell you how much your power rates will be 10-20 years from now. Do you know?

One thing about alternative energy is - you get some level of independence and are not tied to the system, changing rates, and/or power outages.
That level of security in itself has value to me.

At present power company rates, my system will pay me back in six more years. If they go up, payback will be even faster. Then it costs me nothing other then any future repairs I have to make. Was it overall cost-effective considering the true cost? Heck no. But what is when government is involved? I can only deal with how things directly effect me. I have zero control over the indirect effects done by taxes, new laws, and wasteful politicians.

One downside and little known fact is though - that during emergencys and long power outages, war time, terrorist attacks, etc. - FEMA is allowed do seize private systems like mine - all for the "greater good."
 
My problem is that I don't appreciate you boasting about free power that the taxpayer provided 25 thousand dollars for.

If that's weird, so be it.
 
Great work! I say take all the hand outs you can within reason. How many farmers don't sign up for gov. programs? Very few.
 
Boy you do have a problem. It is not like it came right out of your pocket ya a little of it does but it comes out of every body's pocket. The gov. put the money out there to be used just for that so some one is going to use it so why not that guy. Guess your also one that says a person should not collect V.A. pensions or SSD or SSI etc etc. Then what about all the pell grants kids get for college that they do not have to pay back and shoot they haven't even payed into the system yet. Better rethink your thinking dude. He.me/you and millions of others pay in to be able to also collect at some point in time
 
I wasn't intentionally boasting at all. Old asked a legitimate question, and I gave a ligitimate response. Also made an effort to thoroughly explain the situation.

Let me know when you come of age and refuse your Social Securty checks. If external_link gets his way, I suppose you will also refuse health care?

What about all the other products in the USA that are tax-payer supported? The military, drugs, automobiles, public highways, the Internet, cell phone systems, digital television, modern medicine, labor unions, oil and gasoline, etc.

Hey, aren't you using the Internet now? Do some research and see how much tax payer money was used to create it (it wasn't Al Gore).
You'd better disconnect and buy your own carrier pigeon. Make sure you pay cash and use no incentives (direct or indirect).

If you are claiming that you have refused anything and everything in your life - that was somehow supported by tax payer dollars - I say that is total nonsense. Our very freedom in the USA is tax-payer supported. Should we give that up too?

Sounds to me like you are a very angry and very mis-informed person, and subsequently target the wrong things and people with your frustration.

Just what we need on these forums.
 
It seems to me that the government is getting a return on their investment despite the fact that you didn't hire anyone to install the system or pay taxable labor to build your barn.

I am sure that they have increased the assessement on your property and you are paying more taxes. Sure, that goes to the town but it may partially offset state aid to local communities.

But this brings up another question. If everything was accounted for such as increased property taxes and maintenance costs, are you still a "negative" electric utility user? Perhaps that works if you can use a drepreciation schedule on some tax return.

On another note, it seems that in the first picture, your collector is 75% shaded. Maybe it is just a cloud.
 
There's no shade. It was probably a cloud. When I first applied for the incentives, I had to pay someone to do a "sun study" and send in a certified report to the state government. I also had to remove over twenty huge maple and ash trees. It would not be approved with more then 10% blockage of any kind.

I DID pay workers on the install. But . . . I found a work-around. Most installers charge twice or three times the normal rate for such labor, and to get incentive funding you are forced to use only state-authorized installers in NY. I searched around and found a couple of young guys just starting out looking to get a few jobs under their belts. I hired myself out to them as a "subcontractor" and did all the escavation and all the building, and much of the wiring. In fact, when all done, some of their wiring failed inspection and I had to fix it. They made some really bad mistakes and were not experienced electricians. As it all wound up, they wound up making around $40 an hour instead of $100 an hour.

As to property taxes - in my area they cannot raise my property assessment due to an alternative energy installation. Also could not charge me any sales tax. This all differs by states and even counties and towns. In New York, the law says every town is allowed NOT to raise taxes if they choose. That of course means they CAN, if they want. My town does not.

There are other pitfalls. In New York, the power company has to pay me back for any extra electricy they get - every year. In some other states - NO. Last I read the regs. in the state of Michigan, the power company gets all your excess - free of charge. Every year, you are allowed to break even - but anything beyond that is a free-bee for the power company. If I was there making extra power, I'd figure a way to use that power before giving it way. Even if I had to run hot-water heaters in my pond, or build an electric heated driveway.

The general idea, as least as advertised by politicians - for these alternative energy programs - is to get more people OFF the grid, and therefore more grid power available to others. I suspect the true reason is just to make it look like they are doing something - along with a make-work program for "special people."
 
I hear you JD, but you forgot, paying for everyone who is gonna go out and buy a fridge this Friday. The appliance bailout! Right?
 
Yeah, and you know . . . there is a tremendous amount of BS and hype with that deal when in comes to efficiency ratings. Many of these new appliances save very little energy as compared to some made 10-20 years ago. I've tested many and was both surprised and very disappointed. Especially with refrigerators and freezers. I replaced a 1948 International Harvester freezer with a new "Energy Star" rated unit, and saved just about nothing in energy use. Same goes with our new refrigerator. Basically I fell for the hype, but didn't find out until later after I tested the new appliances for current useage over time. Energy Star already admitted once they were figuring the numbers wrong, but now say they are more accurate. I'm not inclined to believe them. I see the "cash for clunker" appliance program just as corrupt as most others. It's a "make sale" program for store owners and a "make work" program for factories.

I also wonder how many jacked up their prices slowly in anticipation of this great event - so now they can "lower" them.

Ever wonder why the TV digital boxes were so expensive? Could it be because the Feds were giving out "free" coupons? Funny that I can buy a new DVD player for $20 but a digital converter box starts at $50?
 
Yep, same as the rops program NY has. I called 4 years ago or so, for a rollbar brand new from the dealer. $800.00. well I dragged my feet, and dident get it. Then I see this rops rebate. They pay up to 70% of the retro fit. So I call thinking its still $800-$900, dealer looks it up and says its now $1400.00. He himself said "I dont rember them being that much, they must have jacked up the price because or the rebate program. Needless to say I still dont have a rollbar for my tractor. All just a scam.
 
Well you also have to think of it this way. You produce power which the power company has to buy from you but they pay whole sale for it which is like 35% of what the sell it for. The Gov. charges taxes on every one electric bill so in the long run the gov. does get its money back and then some. So it is sort of a win win thing gov makes money the power company makes money and the person that set it up sort of makes money
 
(quoted from post at 13:07:00 02/11/10) Yep, same as the rops program NY has. I called 4 years ago or so, for a rollbar brand new from the dealer. $800.00. well I dragged my feet, and dident get it. Then I see this rops rebate. They pay up to 70% of the retro fit. So I call thinking its still $800-$900, dealer looks it up and says its now $1400.00. He himself said "I dont rember them being that much, they must have jacked up the price because or the rebate program. Needless to say I still dont have a rollbar for my tractor. All just a scam.
Click to expand...

OK, maybe I'm missing something..... And maybe I'll upset someone..,
but, why in all he!! would you or anybody else expect other taxpayers to finance something that would prolly save yours or a friend/family member's life???? Kinda like, "I'm living in a 20 year old house trailer, but I ain't using a smoke detector unless the government gives me one........
I can see government subsidies for energy efficiency or pollution control, but c'mon dude.............


POOF???
 
Some people do not see or even know what the big picture really is. Just think when external_link get out of office he will get like $500,000 for the rest of his life. Did he pay in to get it well not really but he will any how but what about that guy in Iran that lost his left leg. Well he might get a 10% disability from the V.A. but wait if they fit him with a peg leg he then looses that and 10% pays out all of $125 a month. How sad is it that if you serve in office you get a life long pension but if you serve in the military you get a kick in the a$$ and that is if your lucky
 
Some people do not see or even know what the big picture really is. Just think when external_link get out of office he will get like $500,000 for the rest of his life. Did he pay in to get it well not really but he will any how but what about that guy in Iran that lost his left leg. Well he might get a 10% disability from the V.A. but wait if they fit him with a peg leg he then looses that and 10% pays out all of $125 a month. How sad is it that if you serve in office you get a life long pension but if you serve in the military you get a kick in the a$$ and that is if your lucky
 
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